Travis Trickett Set Aside His Ego to Experience His Dream Scenario at WVU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Travis Trickett carries a name familiar to longtime WVU football fans. But despite his history with West Virginia, some may wonder why a coach who has held more prominent roles would agree to a title of just “senior offensive assistant” at WVU.

Trickett didn’t shy away from tackling that question when asked directly if he had any trepidation about accepting a job on a staff where the head coach also serves as the offensive coordinator.

First, Trickett brought up that coaching at WVU under his coach from when he was a player has always been a dream job for him. He even called taking the job as a “no-brainer” for him because of what it means to his family.

“You always want to be able to work with the guy that you came up under,” said Trickett after a spring practice. So while Trickett understands why some would think not being named the offensive coordinator would be a hit to his ego, that’s just not what this opportunity is all about for him.

“This job means a lot more to myself and my family than it does to the average bear.”

A 2007 WVU graduate, Trickett is working under Rodriguez as a senior offensive assistant. Bringing things full circle for Trickett, his first-ever coaching position was as a student assistant under Rodriguez from 2003-06.

Trickett made several coaching stops after that before returning to WVU as a member of Neal Brown’s staff in 2019. He served as inside receivers and tight ends coach until 2021. He left West Virginia to become the offensive coordinator at South Florida.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

After one season at USF, Trickett was hired to the same position at Coastal Carolina, where he spent the last two seasons. He was fired from that position last October.

In his lone season at USF, Trickett oversaw improvement in the Bulls’ offensive production despite guiding an offense that had a first-year primary ball carrier, three different starting quarterbacks and 14 members of the two-deep miss all or parts of the season.

Trickett orchestrated major improvements at USF in total offense, rushing offense, scoring offense, third-down conversions, red-zone conversions, pass efficiency and passing touchdowns.

Travis Trickett’s younger brother, Clint Trickett, played quarterback at WVU in 2013 and 2014. Clint Trickett was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State earlier this offseason.

Their father, Rick Trickett, coached at WVU for 10 years across two tenures. He has spent much of his career coaching with Rodriguez, although he elected to remain as the offensive line coach at Jacksonville State rather than follow Rodriguez to WVU this offseason.